I tried the procedure (several times) at the URL provided by bigpup - no luck. Seems HP's usual disclaimer of "may not work on some models" strikes again

In response to mikeslr's query regarding UEFI, it appears that my box does indeed have that present in the boot order menu -

Mm. It's more likely, given your 'puter's age, that HP have finally dropped support for it. The same thing happened with my big old Compaq - a genuine Compaq, not an HP 'namesake'; mine was built shortly before the 2005 takeover, although support then came from HP after that.

At around the 9-10 year mark, HP usually put these older boxes 'out to pasture', and no longer provide support documentation, software upgrades/updates and 'patches'/'bugfixes' for them. And even during the support period, said support is predicated on the fact that it's assumed you're running Windoze.....!

(I'm able to access that URL from here in the UK. Maybe it's a country-by-country thing.....)

Turn on or restart the computer.
While the display is blank, press the f10 key to enter the BIOS settings menu.
The BIOS settings menu is accessible by pressing the f2 or the f6 key on some computers.
After opening the BIOS, go to the boot settings.
For notebook PCs: select the Storage tab, and then select Boot Options.
For desktop PCs: select the System Configuration tab, and then select Boot Order.
Follow the on-screen instructions to change the boot order.

Did this actually give you a list of devices you could select from. One being the USB flash drive?
You did have the USB flash drive plugged in when you tried this?
At the end of the process it should give you option to save the change.

If yes is the answer to all of the above.
Give us a step by step of what you do.
You do what?
You see what?

Changing the boot device order is a standard feature of all computer bios. It really should be easy to change in any computer._________________The things they do not tell you, are usually the clue to solving the problem.
When I was a kid I wanted to be older.... This is not what I expected YaPI(any iso installer) http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=107601

Some info about the HP Holly motherboards
(the p6-2120 is a Holly motherboard)
***********
"Use one of the following methods to open the Computer Setup Utility.

Turn on the computer and immediately press the F10 key repeatedly, about once every second, until the Computer Setup Utility opens.
Turn on the computer and immediately press the Escape key repeatedly, about once every second, until the Startup menu opens. Then press F10."
***********

After getting into BIOS the area concerning boot order is located in
the Storage Menu

This page has actual screens of the BIOS options when you view one of the BIOS Settings
https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03084248
The following are listed under BIOS Settings on the page and provide actual screens
----------------------------------------------------
File menu
Storage menu
Security menu
Power Menu
Advanced menu

Here is a trick to press the key repeatedly.
Just press the key and hold it down.
When the bios screen pops up release the key.

Holding the key down is the same as repeating it.
Most keyboards repeat the key command as long as the key is held down._________________The things they do not tell you, are usually the clue to solving the problem.
When I was a kid I wanted to be older.... This is not what I expected YaPI(any iso installer) http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=107601

Mike Walsh: No, no .... I can access the URL - it's just that I don't get the screens/options/menus that they say I'm supposed to. IOW, it all breaks down when you can't do what they say because you don't get the display(s) that they say you should see.

bigpup: I followed those directions precisely, but was unable to invoke
a "BIOS settings" menu. I get other screens/menus, but none that allow me to change the boot order permanently. Cutting to the chase, I can manually select the USB from which to boot, but I have been unable to change that setting to make it permanent ... and for now that's good enough. I am mortally sick of messing with this lash-up. Maybe I'll try it again in the future ... or maybe not.

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forumYou cannot attach files in this forumYou can download files in this forum